System and Method for Providing a Wireless Device Connection in a Server Rack of a Data Center

ABSTRACT

An information handling system, comprising a host processing complex that instantiates a hosted processing environment, a managed element, a management controller to manage the managed element out of band from the hosted processing environment, and a wireless management module coupled to the management controller, the wireless management module including a wireless transceiver to wirelessly couple a mobile device to the management controller, wherein the management controller receives a direction from the mobile device to manage the managed element.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure generally relates to information handling systems, andmore particularly relates to a system and method for providing awireless device connection in a server rack of a data center.

BACKGROUND

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option is an information handling system. An information handlingsystem generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicatesinformation or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Becausetechnology and information handling needs and requirements may varybetween different applications, information handling systems may alsovary regarding what information is handled, how the information ishandled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, andhow quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, orcommunicated. The variations in information handling systems allow forinformation handling systems to be general or configured for a specificuser or specific use such as financial transaction processing,reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. Inaddition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardwareand software resources that may be configured to process, store, andcommunicate information and may include one or more computer systems,data storage systems, and networking systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements illustrated in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn toscale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements areexaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporatingteachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respectto the drawings presented herein, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of a server rack according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a management system of the serverrack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an OSI layer arrangement of the managementsystem of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are block diagrams of various embodiments of wirelessWiFi-based management networks on the management system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a Bluetooth stack arrangement of themanagement system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a wireless Bluetooth-based managementnetwork on the management system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a generalized informationhandling system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a managementsystem of the information handling system of FIG. 8.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a server rack 100 including a bladechassis 110, a server 130, and storage 140 situated in a rack space ofthe server rack, and a top-of-rack (ToR) switch 150 at the top of theserver rack. The rack space represents a standard server rack, such as a19-inch rack equipment mounting frame or a 23-inch rack equipmentmounting frame, and includes rack units, or divisions of the rack spacethat are a standardized unit of 1.75 inches high. For example, a pieceof equipment that will fit an one of the rack units is referred to as a1-U piece of equipment, another piece of equipment that takes up two ofthe rack units is referred to as a 2-U piece of equipment, and so forth.As such, the rack units are numbered sequentially from the bottom to thetop as 1U, 2U, 3U, 4U, 5U, and 6U. The skilled artisan will recognizethat other configurations for the rack units can be utilized as neededor desired. For example, a rack unit can be defined by the ElectronicComponents Industry Association standards council.

Blade chassis 110 represents a processing system of server rack 100 thatis configured as a number of modular processing resources, or blades,that are provided in a common frame (i.e., the chassis). As such, bladechassis 110 includes server blades 120, 122, 124, and 126. Server 130represents another processing system of server rack 100 that isconfigured as an individual processing resource. Storage 140 representsa data storage capacity of server rack 100 that provides a number ofdisk drives that are configured to the use of blade chassis 110 and ofserver 130, and can include other type of storage resource for serverrack 100.

ToR switch 110 represents a network system of server rack 100, providingfor high speed communications between blade chassis 110, server 130,storage 140, and a network (not illustrated). In particular, ToR switch150 is connected to blade chassis 110, server 130, and storage 140 via anetwork fabric (not illustrated), to provide data routing between theelements.

Each element of server rack 100 includes a management system having amanagement controller and a wireless management module. As such, bladechassis 110 includes a chassis management system 111 with a chassismanagement controller 112 and a wireless management module 114, server130 includes a server management system 131 with a server managementcontroller 132 and a wireless management module 134, storage 140includes a storage management system 111 with a storage managementcontroller 142 and a wireless management module 144, and ToR switch 150includes a ToR management system 151 that includes a ToR managementcontroller 152 and a wireless management module 154. Each of wirelessmanagement modules 114, 134, 144, and 154 include a respectiveactivation switch 116, 136, 146, and 156, and respective indicators 118,138, 148, and 158, described further, below.

Management systems 111, 131, 141, and 151 are connected together via amanagement network 160 to provide for out-of-band monitoring,management, and control of the respective elements of server rack 100.For example, management systems 111, 131, 141, and 151 can providesystem monitoring functions, such as temperature monitoring, powersupply monitoring, physical intrusion monitoring, hot-swap and hot-plugmonitoring, other monitoring functions that can be performed outside ofa hosted environment of the respective elements of server rack 100, orother system monitoring functions as needed or desired. Managementsystems 111, 131, 141, and 151 can also provide system management andcontrol functions for the respective elements of server rack 100, suchas cooling fan speed control, power supply management, hot-swap andhot-plug management, firmware management and update management forsystem BIOS or UEFI, Option ROM, device firmware, and the like, or othersystem management and control functions as needed or desired. As such,management controllers 112, 132, 142, and 152 represent embeddedcontrollers associated with the respective elements of server rack 100that operate separately from a hosted processing environment of therespective elements. For example, management controllers 112, 132, 142,and 152 can include a baseboard management controller (BMC), anIntegrated Dell Remote Access Controller (IDRAC), or another type ofmanagement controller as needed or desired. Further, managementcontrollers 112, 132, 142, and 152 can operate in accordance with anIntelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) specification, a WebServices Management (WSMAN) standard, or another interface standard forembedded management systems, as needed or desired. The skilled artisanwill recognize that management controllers 112, 132, 142, and 152 caninclude other circuit elements, devices, or sub-systems, such as anembedded controller, a logic device such as a Programmable Array Logic(PAL) device, a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), aField-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device, or the like, multiplexors,and other devices as needed or desired to provide the functions andfeatures as described herein.

Wireless management modules 114, 134, 144, and 154 operate to providewireless connectivity between a user with a wireless enabled mobiledevice 170 and management network 160 through the respective managementcontrollers 112, 132, 142, and 152. For example, wireless managementmodules 114, 134, 144, and 154 can include WiFi wireless interfaces inaccordance with one or more IEEE 802.11 specifications for high-speeddata communication between mobile device 170 and the wireless managementmodules, at speeds of up to 30 mega-bits per second (MBPS) or more.Wireless management modules 114, 134, 144, and 154 can also includeBluetooth wireless interfaces in accordance with one or more Bluetoothspecifications, including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), also known asBluetooth Smart (BTS), for lower-speed communications at speeds of up to150 kilo-bits per second (Kbps) or more.

Wireless management modules 114, 134, 144, and 154 include varioussecurity features to ensure that the connection between mobile device170 and management network 160 is secure and that the user of the mobiledevice is authorized to access the resources of the management network.In particular, wireless management modules 114, 134, 144, and 154operate to provide various WiFi user and device authentication schemes,such as schemes that are in accordance with one or more IEEE 802.11specifications, Service Set Identification (SSID) hiding, Media AccessControl Identification (MAC ID) filtering to allow only pre-approveddevices or to disallow predetermined blacklisted devices, StaticInternet Protocol (IP) addressing, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)encryption, WiFi Protected Access (WPA) or WPA2 encryption, TemporaryKey Integrity Protocol (TKIP) key mixing, Extensible AuthenticationProtocol (EAP) authentication services, EAP variants such asLightweight-EAP (LEAP), Protected-EAP (PEAP), and other standard orvendor specific user and device authentication schemes, as needed ordesired. Further, wireless management modules 114, 134, 144, and 154operate to provide various Bluetooth device and service authenticationschemes, such as a Security Mode 2 service level-enforced security modethat may be initiated after link establishment but before logicalchannel establishment, a Security Mode 3 link level-enforced securitymode that may be initiated before a physical link is fully established,a Security Mode 4 service level-enforced security mode that may beinitiated after link establishment but before logical channelestablishment and that uses a Secure Simple Pairing (SSP) protocol, orother device or service authentication schemes, as needed or desired.

In a particular embodiment, wireless management modules 114, 134, 144,and 154 also provide additional security features that further assurethe user, device, and service security of the connection between mobiledevice 170 and management network 160. In particular, wirelessmanagement modules 114, 134, 144, and 154 each include an activationswitch 116, 136, 146, and 156, respectively, that operate to enable theestablishment of the connection between the mobile device and thewireless management modules. In this way, the establishment of theconnection between mobile device 170 and wireless management modules114, 134, 144, and 154 is predicated on the physical proximity of a userand of the user's mobile device to server rack 100, and also upon anaction indicating a request to establish the connection. Here, a remotedevice and user would not be able to initiate an attack on managementnetwork 160 because of the lack of physical proximity to server rack 100to activate activation switches 116, 136, 146, or 156, and so anyattempt to attack management network would have to wait at least until aservice technician activated one of the activation switches. In anotherembodiment, one or more of wireless management modules 114, 134, 144,and 154 and mobile device 170 operate to detect a Received SignalStrength Indication (RSSI) or a Received Channel Power Indication (RCPI)to permit the determination of the proximity between the mobile deviceand the wireless management modules, as described further, below. In aparticular embodiment, one or more of wireless management modules 114,134, 144, and 154 does not include an activation switch, and theparticular wireless management modules provide for the establishment ofthe connection between the mobile device the wireless management modulesin response to another activation request from the mobile device.

The elements of server rack 100, blade chassis 110, server 130, storage140, and ToR switch 150 are exemplary, and more or fewer elements can beconsidered to be included in the server rack as needed or desired, andthat other types of elements can be included in the server rack asneeded or desired. Further, the management network of server rack 100can include management controllers associated with more or fewerelements or different types of elements, and needed or desired.

FIG. 2 illustrates a management system 200 similar to management systems111, 131, 141, and 151, and includes a management controller 210 that issimilar to management controllers 112, 132, 142, and 152, a wirelessmanagement module 240 similar to wireless management modules 114, 134,144, and 154, a USB connector 202, a wireless device antenna 204, and aconnection to a management network 206. Management controller 210includes a USB multiplexor 212, a CPLD 214, and an embedded controller220. Embedded controller 220 includes a USB interface 222, a resetfunction output 224, an interrupt request input 226, a managementnetwork interface device (NIC) 228, an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C)interface 230, and a General Purpose I/O (GPIO) 232.

Wireless management module 240 includes a 20 megahertz (MHz) crystal242, a system ID module 244, indicators 246, an activation switch 248, amicro-controller 250, and a wireless transceiver module 270.Micro-controller 250 includes a USB interface 252, a reset functioninput 254, GPIOs 256 and 266, an I2C interface 258, a Secure Digital I/O(SDIO) interface 260, a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter(UART) 262, and a crystal input 264. Wireless transceiver module 270includes and SDIO interface 72, a UART 274, a WiFi transceiver 276, aBluetooth transceiver 278, and a Radio Frequency (RF) switch 280.Management controller 210 and wireless management module 240 will beunderstood to include other elements, such as memory devices, powersystems, and other elements as needed or desired to perform theoperations as described herein. In a particular embodiment, wirelessmanagement module 240 is configured as a pluggable module that can beinstalled into management system 200, or not, as needed or desired bythe user of a rack system that includes the management system. Theskilled artisan will recognize that other configurations can beprovided, including providing one or more element of managementcontroller 210 or wireless management module 240 as a pluggable module,as elements on a main board of management system 200, or as integrateddevices of the management system.

USB multiplexor 212 is connected to USB connector 202, and USBinterfaces 222 and 252 to make a selected point-to-point USB connection.For example, a connection can be made between a USB device plugged in toUSB connector 202 and embedded controller 220 by connecting the USBconnector to USB interface 222. In this way, a device plugged in to USBconnector 202 can access the management functions and features of theinformation handling system that is managed by management controller210, and can access management network 206. Alternatively, a connectioncan be made between a USB device plugged in to USB connector 202 andmicro-controller 250 by connecting the USB connector to USB interface252. In this way, a device plugged in to USB connector 202 can accessthe management functions and features of wireless management module 240.For example, a technician in a data center can connect a laptop deviceto USB connector 202, configure USB multiplexor 212 to make apoint-to-point connection to USB interface 252, and provide a firmwareupdate for wireless management module 240. Finally, a connection can bemade between embedded controller 220 and micro-controller 250 byconnecting USB interface 222 to USB interface 222. In this way, a mobiledevice 290 that has established a wireless connection to wirelessmanagement module 240 can access the management functions and featuresof the information handling system that is managed by management system200, the mobile device can access management network 206, and themanagement network can be used to access the management functions andfeatures of the wireless management module or to provide a firmwareupdate for the wireless management module. USB connector 202, USBmultiplexor 212, and USB interfaces 222 and 252 can be configured inaccordance with the USB Standard Revision 3.1, or with another USBStandard Revision, as needed or desired. In updating the firmware ofwireless management module 240, micro-controller 250 operates to provideversion retrieval, fail-safe updating, signature validation, and otheroperations needed or desired to perform the firmware update of thewireless management module. In a particular embodiment, managementcontroller 210 does not include USB multiplexor 212, and USB interfaces222 and 252 are directly connected together.

CPLD 214 represents a logic device for implementing custom logiccircuitry to interface between various off-the-shelf integratedcircuits, and particularly between embedded controller 220 andmicro-controller 250. In particular, CPLD 214 operates to receive asystem identification input (SYS_ID) from wireless management module240, to receive the reset signal from reset function output 224, toforward the reset signal to reset function input 254, to receive amodule present (PRESENT) signal from the wireless management module, andto receive an interrupt (INT) signal from GPIO 256. The SYS_ID can beprovided based upon one or more settings, such as jumper settings,fusible links, register settings, or other settings, as needed ordesired. In another embodiment, one or more functions of CPLD 214 isprovided by embedded controller 220, or by micro-controller 250, asneeded or desired.

Embedded controller 220 represents an integrated device or devices thatis utilized to provide out-of-band management functions to theinformation handling system that includes management system 200, and caninclude a BMC, an IDRAC, or another device that operates according tothe IPMI specification. In particular, embedded controller 220 operatesto receive an interrupt alert (ALERT) signal from GPIO 258 on interruptrequest input 230, to send and receive information between I2C 230 andI2C 258, and to receive system status information and systemidentification information (SYS_STATUS/SYS_ID) from system ID module244.

Micro-controller 250 represents an embedded controller that operates tocontrol the functions and features of wireless module 240, as describedfurther, below. Micro-controller 250 operates to send and receiveinformation between SDIO interface 260 and SDIO interface 272, to sendand receive information between UART 262 and UART 274, to receive acrystal clock signal input from crystal 242, to provide control outputsfrom GPIO 266 to indicators 246, and to receive an activation input fromactivation switch 248 at GPIO 266. Indicators 246 provide visualindications of various statuses for wireless management module 240,including a health indication, a electrical/power indication, atemperature indication, a memory status indication, and a radio statusindication that identifies the type of a mobile device that is connectedto wireless management module, such as a WiFi device, a Bluetoothdevice, or a Near Field Communication (NFC) device. In a particularembodiment, micro-controller 250 provides other modes of communicationbetween management controller 210 and wireless transceiver module 270,as needed or desired.

Wireless transceiver module 270 represents a mixed-signal integratedcircuit device that operates to provide the radio signal interface to amobile device 290 and to provide data interfaces to micro-controller250. As such, wireless transceiver module 270 includes a WiFi channelthat includes SDIO interface 272 and WiFi transceiver 276, and aBluetooth channel that includes UART 274 and Bluetooth transceiver 278that each are connected to RF switch 280. RF switch 280 switches antenna204 to selectively provide WiFi communications or Bluetoothcommunications to mobile device 290. In a particular embodiment,wireless transceiver module 270 represents an off-the-shelf device toprovide WiFi and Bluetooth wireless communications with mobile device290.

Management controller 210 operates to provide management andconfiguration of wireless management module 240, such as by providingfirmware updates, SSID configuration, WEP or WPA2 passwords, and thelike. In interfacing with management controller 210, wireless managementmodule 240 is represented as a composite USB device, and is connected astwo different devices to the management controller. In operating with aWiFi connected mobile device, such as mobile device 290, managementcontroller 210 instantiates a USB class NIC device driver, and themanagement controller treats the wireless management module inaccordance with an Ethernet Remote Network Driver InterfaceSpecification (RNDIS), a USB Communication Device Class (CDC) device, aUSB NIC, or another USB network class device. Thus, as viewed frommanagement controller 210, wireless management module 240 operate as aUSB NIC, and as viewed from mobile device 290 the wireless managementmodule operates as a WiFi class device, as described further below.

In operating with a Bluetooth connected mobile device, such as mobiledevice 290, management controller 210 acts as a Bluetooth HostController, using a Host Controller Interface (HCI) protocol tocommunicate with wireless management module 240 via a serial port(UART). In another embodiment, wireless management module 240 is viewedby management controller 210 as a Bluetooth dongle. Thus, as viewed frommanagement controller 210, wireless management module 240 operate as aUSB CDC, and as viewed from mobile device 290 the wireless managementmodule operates as a Bluetooth device, as described further below.

Wireless management module 240 operates to deactivate one or more of theWiFi stack and the Bluetooth stack in response to a timeout event. Assuch, micro-controller 250 can include a timer that determines if aconnected device has gone dormant or otherwise ceased to interact withmanagement system 200, such as when mobile device 290 has moved out ofrange of wireless management module 240. Here, wireless managementmodule 240 can suspend the connected session with the mobile device, andno new session will be initiated until activation switch 248 isactivated to indicate that a new session is requested. For example, whena user who is connected using mobile device 290 with management system200, but subsequently walks away from a server rack that includes themanagement system, wireless management module 240 can automaticallydetect the time that the connection is idle, and, after a predeterminedduration, can shut down the connection and suspend all wireless activityuntil a new session is requested. Further, wireless management module240 operates such that a selected one or both of the WiFi stack and theBluetooth stack can be disabled. In a particular embodiment, wirelessmanagement module 240 operates to configure the transmission power levelof the WiFi channel and of the Bluetooth channel.

Mobile device 290 represents a wireless communication enabled device,such as a tablet device, a laptop computer, a smart phone, and the like,that is configured to interact with management system 200 via a wirelessconnection to wireless management module 240. In particular, mobiledevice 290 can include a mobile operating system (OS), such as anAndroid OS, an iOS, a Windows mobile OS, or another mobile OS that isconfigured to operate with the hardware of the mobile device. As such,the hardware of mobile device 290 can include Android-enabled hardware,iOS-enabled hardware, Windows-enabled hardware, or other hardware, asneeded or desired.

FIG. 3 illustrates management system 200, including the stack up of anOpen Systems Interconnection (OSI) communication model layer arrangementfor the management system. Here, the physical layer (L1) 310 and thelink layer (L2) 320 are included in the functionality of wirelessmanagement module 240, and the network layer (L3) 330, the transportlayer (L4) 340, the session layer (L5) 350, the presentation layer (L6)360, and the application layer (L7) 370 are included in managementcontroller 210.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a wireless WiFi-based managementnetwork 400 on management system 200. Here, wireless management module240 presents itself to management controller 210 as a USB NICfunctionality, and the management controller is illustrated as providinga USB NIC functionality by including a USB CDC/RNDIS Ethernet driver420, a MAC address 422, an IP address 424 (192.168.2.2), a TransmissionControl Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) layer 426, andan application layer 428. Management controller 210 is also illustratedas providing an I2C interface including an I2C driver 430 and a wirelessprovisioner 432. Note that the IP address can be an IP version 4 (IP4)address, as illustrated, or an IP version 6 (IPV6) address, as needed ordesired. Wireless management module 240 operates independently frommanagement controller 210 in establishing and maintaining WiFi-basedmanagement network 400.

In establishing WiFi-based management network 400, wireless managementmodule 240 is configured as a wireless access point that allows multiplemobile devices to be connected to management system 200. As such,management system 200 is illustrated as being connected with mobiledevices 410, 412, and 414. Wireless management module 240 provides WiFisecurity functionality to mobile devices 410, 412, and 414, such as byscreening the WIFI SSID so that only mobile devices that are aware ofthe existence of the wireless management module can be provide a requestto be connected, by providing a key secured establishment of theconnection, by encrypting communications between the mobile devices andthe wireless management module using WEP, WPA, WPA2, or anotherencryption protocol, by providing other security assurance functions andfeatures, or a combination thereof.

In addition, wireless management module 240 operates as a Dynamic HostConfiguration Protocol (DHCP) host that provides a unique IP address toconnected mobile devices 410, 412, and 414, the wireless managementmodule can establish the connections with the mobile devices based uponstatic IP addresses of the mobile devices, or the wireless managementmodule can provide a sub-network using a combination of DHCP-provided IPaddresses and static IP addresses, as needed or desired. Further,wireless management module 240 views management controller 210 as aseparate IP endpoint and can provide the management controller with aDHCP-provided IP address or the management controller can include astatic IP address as needed or desired. In another embodiment,management controller 210 operates as a DHCP host that provides IPaddresses to connected mobile devices 410, 412, and 414. In a particularembodiment, the DHCP host operates in accordance with the DHCPv6specification, in a stateless auto-configuration mode, or another IPprotocol.

Further, wireless management module 240 operates as a Layer-2 switchthat redirects packets on the sub-network to the targeted endpoints. Assuch, mobile devices 410, 412, and 414, wireless management module 240,and management controller 210 can communicate with each other on thesub-network provided by the wireless management module. Also, wirelessmanagement module 240 operates to distribute gateway information tomobile devices 410, 412, and 414, and to management controller 210.Further, wireless management module 240 supports blacklisting andwhitelisting of specific IP addresses that request access to managementsystem 200.

In a particular embodiment, management controller 210 operates toprovide various configuration information to wireless management module240 via wireless provisioner 432, which tunes and controls the behaviorof the wireless management module over the I2C bus. As such, managementcontroller 210 can provide SSIDs, security keys, gateway addresses, andother configuration information, to wireless management module 240 viaone of USB interfaces 212 and 252, and I2C interfaces 230 and 258. Here,because USB interfaces 212 and 252 and I2C interfaces 230 and 258 arewithin a server rack, and thus are deemed to be secure, wirelessmanagement module 240 does not need to employ additional securitymeasures in accepting such configuration information from managementcontroller 210. In another embodiment, wireless management module 240receives the various configuration information from one or more ofmobile devices 410, 412, and 414. Here, because a connection betweenwireless management module 240 and mobile devices 410, 412, and 414 isless secure than the connection to management controller 210, thewireless management module includes a management mode that is accessedvia additional security and authentication functions and features inorder to ensure that the users of the mobile devices are authorized tomake such configuration modifications. For example, the management modecan be accessed via an additional username and password verification,via a hardware device authentication, or another mechanism for providingsecurity and authentication, as needed or desired. In anotherembodiment, communications between management controller 210 andwireless management module 250 is conducted by other communicationinterfaces than USB interfaces 212 and 252, and I2C interfaces 230 and258, as needed or desired.

A method of providing WiFi-based management network 400 on managementsystem 200 includes powering on the management system, and determiningthat wireless management module 240 is installed into the managementsystem. If wireless management system 240 is installed, then managementcontroller 210 issues a DHCP request to connect to the access point thatis established on the wireless management module. Wireless managementmodule 240 assigns an IP address (192.168.2.2) to management controller210 that is in the same sub-network as the access point (192.168.2.1).Next, mobile device 410 issues a DHCP request to connect to the accesspoint and wireless management module 240 assigns an IP address(192.168.2.3) to the mobile device. Similarly, mobile devices 412 and414 issue DHCP requests to connect to the access point and wirelessmanagement module 240 assigns IP addresses (192.168.2.4 and 192.168.2.5)to the mobile devices. In this way, management controller 210, wirelessmanagement module 240, and mobile devices 410, 412, and 414 cancommunicate over the sub-network with each other.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a wireless-based managementnetwork 500 on management system 200. WiFi based management network 500includes the functions and features of WiFi based management network400, where wireless management module 240 operates in an access pointmode to form a sub-network with mobile devices 410, 412, and 414. Inaddition to establishing WiFi-based management network 400, wirelessmanagement module 240 is configured as a wireless base station thatpermits the wireless management module to connect to a wirelessmanagement network 520 on a different sub-network. In the wireless basestation mode, wireless management module 240 operates as a wirelessclient to wireless management network 520, such that the wirelessmanagement module operates to provide a DHCP request and authenticationcredentials to the wireless management network, and is authenticated bythe wireless management network. Here, wireless management module 240operates as a router that permits mobile devices 410, 412, and 414, andmanagement controller 210 to communicate with wireless managementnetwork 520. In another embodiment, management controller 210 operatesas the router, as needed or desired.

In a particular embodiment, management controller 210 is established asa node on wireless management network 520. Here, in one case, managementcontroller 210 can be initially connected to, and established as a nodeon management network 520 through wireless management module 240, andthen the wireless management module can establish the access pointsub-network with mobile devices 410, 412, and 414. In another case,wireless management module 240 can establish the access pointsub-network with mobile devices 410, 412, and 414, and managementcontroller 210, as described above. Then, management controller 210 canperform a USB disconnect and a USB reconnect to wireless managementmodule 240, and can send a DHCP request and authentication credentialsto wireless management network 520 to obtain an IP address that is onthe sub-network of the wireless management network.

A method of providing WiFi-based management network 500 on managementsystem 200 includes the method for providing WiFi-based managementnetwork 400, as described above. After management controller 210,wireless management module 240, and mobile devices 410, 412, and 414 areestablished on the first sub-network, the management controller directsthe wireless management module 240 to operate in a concurrent accesspoint and base station mode. Wireless management module 240 thendisconnects from the USB interface and reconnects to the USB interfacewith management module 210, and the management module sends SSID andauthentication information to the wireless management module. Wirelessmanagement module 240 then sends a DHCP request and the authenticationinformation to wireless management network 520. Wireless managementnetwork 520 sends an IP address (10.35. 17.X) to management controller210 and authenticates the management controller onto the newsub-network. Here, because wireless management module 240 operates as arouter, mobile devices 410, 412, and 414 can also communicate withwireless management network 520.

FIG. 6 illustrates management system 200, including the stack up of aBluetooth communication arrangement for the management system. Here, theapplication 610 and the host 620 are included in the functionality ofmanagement controller 210, and the controller 630 is included in thefunctionality of wireless management module 240.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a wireless Bluetooth-basedmanagement network 700 on management system 200. Here, wirelessmanagement module 240 presents itself to management controller 210 as aUSB COM port functionality, and the management controller is illustratedas including a Bluetooth USB-HCI layer 720, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)host OSI layers 722, and Bluetooth Generic Attribute Profiles (GATT)724. Management controller 210 is also illustrated as providing I2Cdriver 430 and wireless provisioner 432, which tunes and controls thebehavior of the wireless management module over the I2C bus. Wirelessmanagement module 240 operates independently from management controller210 in establishing and maintaining Bluetooth-based management network700.

In establishing Bluetooth-based management network 700, wirelessmanagement module 240 is configured as a Bluetooth controller inaccordance with a Bluetooth Core Specification, and can connect a singlemobile device 710 to management system 200. Management controller 210operates to provide and maintain the BLE beacon data, content, and passkeys in wireless management module 240, and directs the wirelessmanagement module to change between operating modes, such as anadvertising mode, a scanning mode, a master mode, a slave mode, oranother operating mode, as needed or desired. In a particularembodiment, wireless management module 240 operates to configure thetransmission power level of the Bluetooth channel, and supports RSSI andRCPI reporting on the incoming signal from mobile device 710. Further,wireless management module 240 supports blacklisting and whitelisting ofspecific mobile devices that request access to management system 200,such as by identifying a particular MAC address, IP address,International Mobile-station Equipment Identity (IMEI), Mobile EquipmentIdentifier (MEID), or other unique identifier for a mobile device.

FIG. 8 illustrates a generalized embodiment of information handlingsystem 800. For purpose of this disclosure information handling system800 can include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalitiesoperable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve,originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce,handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data forbusiness, scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. Forexample, information handling system 800 can be a personal computer, alaptop computer, a smart phone, a tablet device or other consumerelectronic device, a network server, a network storage device, a switchrouter or other network communication device, or any other suitabledevice and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, andprice. Further, information handling system 800 can include processingresources for executing machine-executable code, such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a programmable logic array (PLA), an embeddeddevice such as a System-on-a-Chip (SoC), or other control logichardware. Information handling system 800 can also include one or morecomputer-readable medium for storing machine-executable code, such assoftware or data. Additional components of information handling system800 can include one or more storage devices that can storemachine-executable code, one or more communications ports forcommunicating with external devices, and various input and output (I/O)devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. Informationhandling system 800 can also include one or more buses operable totransmit information between the various hardware components.

Information handling system 800 can include devices or modules thatembody one or more of the devices or modules described above, andoperates to perform one or more of the methods described above.Information handling system 800 includes a processors 802 and 804, achipset 810, a memory 820, a graphics interface 830, include a basicinput and output system/extensible firmware interface (BIOS/EFI) module840, a disk controller 850, a disk emulator 860, an input/output (I/O)interface 870, a network interface 880, and a management system 890.Processor 802 is connected to chipset 810 via processor interface 806,and processor 804 is connected to the chipset via processor interface808. Memory 820 is connected to chipset 810 via a memory bus 822.Graphics interface 830 is connected to chipset 810 via a graphicsinterface 832, and provides a video display output 836 to a videodisplay 834. In a particular embodiment, information handling system 800includes separate memories that are dedicated to each of processors 802and 804 via separate memory interfaces. An example of memory 820includes random access memory (RAM) such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamicRAM (DRAM), non-volatile RAM (NV-RAM), or the like, read only memory(ROM), another type of memory, or a combination thereof.

BIOS/EFI module 840, disk controller 850, and I/O interface 870 areconnected to chipset 810 via an I/O channel 812. An example of I/Ochannel 812 includes a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)interface, a PCI-Extended (PCI-X) interface, a high speed PCI-Express(PCIe) interface, another industry standard or proprietary communicationinterface, or a combination thereof. Chipset 810 can also include one ormore other I/O interfaces, including an Industry Standard Architecture(ISA) interface, a Small Computer Serial Interface (SCSI) interface, anInter-Integrated Circuit (I²C) interface, a System Packet Interface(SPI), a Universal Serial Bus (USB), another interface, or a combinationthereof. BIOS/EFI module 840 includes BIOS/EFI code operable to detectresources within information handling system 800, to provide drivers forthe resources, initialize the resources, and access the resources.BIOS/EFI module 840 includes code that operates to detect resourceswithin information handling system 800, to provide drivers for theresources, to initialize the resources, and to access the resources.

Disk controller 850 includes a disk interface 852 that connects the disccontroller to a hard disk drive (HDD) 854, to an optical disk drive(ODD) 856, and to disk emulator 860. An example of disk interface 852includes an Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) interface, an AdvancedTechnology Attachment (ATA) such as a parallel ATA (PATA) interface or aserial ATA (SATA) interface, a SCSI interface, a USB interface, aproprietary interface, or a combination thereof. Disk emulator 860permits a solid-state drive 864 to be connected to information handlingsystem 800 via an external interface 862. An example of externalinterface 862 includes a USB interface, an IEEE 1394 (Firewire)interface, a proprietary interface, or a combination thereof.Alternatively, solid-state drive 864 can be disposed within informationhandling system 800.

I/O interface 870 includes a peripheral interface 872 that connects theI/O interface to an add-on resource 874, to a TPM 876, and to networkinterface 880. Peripheral interface 872 can be the same type ofinterface as I/O channel 812, or can be a different type of interface.As such, I/O interface 870 extends the capacity of I/O channel 812 whenperipheral interface 872 and the I/O channel are of the same type, andthe I/O interface translates information from a format suitable to theI/O channel to a format suitable to the peripheral channel 872 when theyare of a different type. Add-on resource 874 can include a data storagesystem, an additional graphics interface, a network interface card(NIC), a sound/video processing card, another add-on resource, or acombination thereof. Add-on resource 874 can be on a main circuit board,on separate circuit board or add-in card disposed within informationhandling system 800, a device that is external to the informationhandling system, or a combination thereof.

Network interface 880 represents a NIC disposed within informationhandling system 800, on a main circuit board of the information handlingsystem, integrated onto another component such as chipset 810, inanother suitable location, or a combination thereof. Network interfacedevice 880 includes network channels 882 and 884 that provide interfacesto devices that are external to information handling system 800. In aparticular embodiment, network channels 882 and 884 are of a differenttype than peripheral channel 872 and network interface 880 translatesinformation from a format suitable to the peripheral channel to a formatsuitable to external devices. An example of network channels 882 and 884includes InfiniBand channels, Fibre Channel channels, Gigabit Ethernetchannels, proprietary channel architectures, or a combination thereof.Network channels 882 and 884 can be connected to external networkresources (not illustrated). The network resource can include anotherinformation handling system, a data storage system, another network, agrid management system, another suitable resource, or a combinationthereof.

Management system 890 provides for out-of-band monitoring, management,and control of the respective elements of information handling system800, such as cooling fan speed control, power supply management,hot-swap and hot-plug management, firmware management and updatemanagement for system BIOS or UEFI, Option ROM, device firmware, and thelike, or other system management and control functions as needed ordesired. As such, management system 890 provides some or all of thefunctions and features of the management systems, managementcontrollers, embedded controllers, or other embedded devices or systems,as described herein.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of management system 890, including aservice processor 910, a random-access memory (RAM) 920, an NVRAM 930, amedia access control interface (MAC) 940, an I²C/SMBus interface 950,and an SPI interface 960. RAM 920 and NVRAM 930 are connected to serviceprocessor 910 through a memory bus 925. MAC 940, I²C/SMBus interface950, and SPI interface 960 are connected to service processor 910through an I/O bus 945. Management system 890 functions as a separatemicrocontroller system in information handling system 800, providing adedicated management channel for maintenance and control of resources inthe information handling system. As such, the resources in informationhandling system 800 are connected to one or more of I²C/SMBus interface950, and SPI interface 960, permitting management system 890 to receiveinformation from or send information to the resources. A managementsystem can be connected to management system 890 via MAC 940, therebypermitting the management system to receive information from or sendinformation to the management system for out-of-band management ofinformation handling system 800. An example of MAC 940 includes anEthernet standard interface, such as a reduced media independentinterface (RMII), a network communication service interface (NC-SI),another network standard interface, or any combination thereof.

In a particular embodiment, management system 890 is included on a maincircuit board (e.g., a baseboard, a motherboard, or any combinationthereof) of information handling system 800, integrated onto anotherelement of the information handling system such as chipset 810, oranother suitable element, as needed or desired. As such, managementsystem 890 can be part of an integrated circuit or a chip set withininformation handling system 800. An example of management system 890includes a baseboard management controller (BMC), an integrated Dellremote access controller (iDRAC), another controller, or any combinationthereof. Management system 890 can also operate on a separate powerplane from other resources in information handling system 800. Thusmanagement system 890 can communicate with a management system while theresources of information handling system 800 are powered off. Here,information can be sent from the management system to management system890 and the information is stored in RAM 920 or NVRAM 930. Informationstored in RAM 920 may be lost after power-down of the power plane formanagement system 890, while information stored in NVRAM 930 may besaved through a power-down/power-up cycle of the power plane for themanagement controller.

The preceding description in combination with the Figures is provided toassist in understanding the teachings disclosed herein. The precedingdiscussion focused on specific implementations and embodiments of theteachings. This focus has been provided to assist in describing theteachings, and should not be interpreted as a limitation on the scope orapplicability of the teachings. However, other teachings can certainlybe used in this application. The teachings can also be used in otherapplications, and with several different types of architectures, such asdistributed computing architectures, client/server architectures, ormiddleware server architectures and associated resources.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detailherein, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that manymodifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments withoutmaterially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of theembodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of theembodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the followingclaims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to coverthe structures described herein as performing the recited function andnot only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

When referred to as a “device,” a “module,” or the like, the embodimentsdescribed herein can be configured as hardware. For example, a portionof an information handling system device may be hardware such as, forexample, an integrated circuit (such as an Application SpecificIntegrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), astructured ASIC, or a device embedded on a larger chip), a card (such asa Peripheral Component Interface (PCI) card, a PCI-express card, aPersonal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card,or other such expansion card), or a system (such as a motherboard, asystem-on-a-chip (SoC), or a stand-alone device).

The device or module can include software, including firmware embeddedat a device, such as a Pentium class or PowerPC™ brand processor, orother such device, or software capable of operating a relevantenvironment of the information handling system. The device or module canalso include a combination of the foregoing examples of hardware orsoftware. Note that an information handling system can include anintegrated circuit or a board-level product having portions thereof thatcan also be any combination of hardware and software.

Devices, modules, resources, or programs that are in communication withone another need not be in continuous communication with each other,unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices, modules,resources, or programs that are in communication with one another cancommunicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover any andall such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments that fallwithin the scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extentallowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determinedby the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims andtheir equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by theforegoing detailed description.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information handling system, comprising: a host processing complex to instantiate a hosted processing environment; a managed element; a management controller to manage the managed element out of band from the hosted processing environment; and a wireless management module coupled to the management controller, the wireless management module including a wireless transceiver to wirelessly couple a mobile device to the management controller, wherein the management controller receives a direction from the mobile device to manage the managed element.
 2. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein: the management controller includes a first Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface; and the wireless management module includes a second USB interface coupled to the first USB interface.
 3. The information handling system of claim 2, wherein: the management controller configures the first USB interface as a USB network interface device; and the wireless management interface configures the second USB interface as wireless endpoint.
 4. The information handling system of claim 3, wherein the wireless endpoint comprises a WiFi wireless endpoint.
 5. The information handling system of claim 4, wherein the WiFi wireless endpoint is configured to provide a wireless access point, and the wireless management module authenticates the mobile device onto the access point.
 6. The information handling system of claim 4, wherein the WiFi wireless endpoint is configured to provide a base station, and the wireless management module is authenticated onto a wireless network.
 7. The information handling system of claim 3, wherein the wireless endpoint comprises a Bluetooth controller, and the Bluetooth controller authenticates the mobile device.
 8. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the management controller provides a configuration setting to the wireless management module.
 9. The information handling system of claim 8, wherein the configuration setting includes a blacklist of mobile devices that are not permitted to connect to the wireless management module.
 10. The information handling system of claim 8, wherein the configuration setting includes a whitelist of mobile devices that are permitted to connect to the wireless management module.
 11. The information handling system of claim 8, wherein the configuration setting includes a Service Set Identification (SSID) for a WiFi access point instantiated by the wireless management module.
 12. An method, comprising: instantiating, on a host processing complex of a system, a hosted processing environment; managing, by a management controller of the system, a managed element of the system out of band from the hosted processing environment; coupling a wireless management module of the system to the management controller; wirelessly coupling, by a transceiver of the wireless management module, a mobile device to the management controller; and receiving, at the management controller, a direction from the mobile device to manage the managed element.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: coupling a first Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface of the management controller to a second USB interface of the wireless management module.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein: configuring, by the management controller, the first USB interface as a USB network interface device; and configuring the second USB interface as wireless endpoint.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the wireless endpoint comprises a WiFi wireless endpoint.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: configuring the WiFi wireless endpoint to provide a wireless access point; and authenticating, by the wireless management module, the mobile device onto the access point.
 17. The method of claim 15, further comprising: configuring the WiFi wireless endpoint to provide a base station; and authenticating the wireless management module onto a wireless network.
 18. The method of claim 14: wherein the wireless endpoint comprises a Bluetooth controller; the method further comprising authenticating, by the Bluetooth controller, the mobile device.
 19. The method of claim 12, further comprising: providing, by the management controller, a configuration setting to the wireless management module.
 20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including code for performing a method, the method comprising: instantiating, on a host processing complex of a system, a hosted processing environment; managing, by a management controller of the system, a managed element of the system out of band from the hosted processing environment; coupling a wireless management module of the system to the management controller; wirelessly coupling, by a transceiver of the wireless management module, a mobile device to the management controller; and receiving, at the management controller, a direction from the mobile device to manage the managed element. 